Annual Report of the President

Poor Prexy's final annual report. Curiously, there is no mention of Edward A. Byron of Cincinnati. Was there a different diagnosis of his illness by then?

Obviously, this is not the entire annual report. I only included the section that I found to be relevant.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

     

HONORABLE LAWRENCE E. LAYBOURNE, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Ohio State University:

    DEAR SIR -- I have the honor to present through you to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio State University for transmission to the Governor of Ohio, as required by law, the fifty-fifth annual report of the Ohio State University, for the year ending June 30, 1925.

. . . 

THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

    The feature in connection with the report on this college for the current year demanding a statement is the experiences occurring during the winter.

W. O. Thompson

    On Saturday, January 31st, the University was shocked at the announcement of the sudden death of Mr. Charles H. Huls of Logan, a Senior in the College of Commerce and Journalism. On Sunday, the first day of February, the startling announcement was made that David I. Puskin, a Junior in the College of Commerce and Journalism, had suddenly died. Immediate attention was brought to these two cases and the preliminary assumption was that the death of Mr. Huls was due to Tetanus and that of Mr. Puskin to Meningitis. These two assumptions aroused a state of great anxiety as to an impending epidemic among the students.

    On Monday, February 2nd, G. Delbert Thompson of Canton, a Senior in the College of Commerce and Journalism, while in one of the stores downtown was seized with convulsions similar to those which preceded the death of both Mr. Huls and Mr. Puskin. He was promptly sent to the University Hospital and an investigation begun by the officials there, Through heroic efforts the life of Mr. Thompson was saved. Mr. Timothy J. McCarthy of Columbus, a Sophomore in the College of Commerce and Journalism; Mr. Harold E. Gillig of Toledo, a Sophomore in the College of Arts, and Mr. Robert H. Ross of Bellevue, a Freshman in the College of Arts, also fell ill. The fact that these students had capsules in their possession led to a searching investigation in the dispensary of the College of Pharmacy and every effort was made to discover the causes leading to this most serious and most deplorable experience. It was soon discovered that the cases were due to strychnine poisoning. A few capsules were found also in the possession of the students. Analysis of these capsules revealed the fact that they had been filled with strychnine. A further investigation developed that only a few of these capsules had been available and that not a single one remained in the receptacles in the dispensary. Having determined the questions of fact as to the presence of these capsules filled with strychnine and as to the limited supply of them, the investigation then turned upon the sources of supply. That question is not satisfactorily determined to this date. The issue still remains whether a limited number of these capsules had been distributed through the ordinary channels in the dispensary. The Columbus Police authorities were called into action and through an extended investigation conducted by the Police Prosecutor, Mr. John J. Chester, Jr., every effort was made to discover any possible information as to the facts involved, the motives that might be present and any other facts that would assist in reaching a conclusion as to how these capsules of strychnine could have been filled and dispensed.

    Somewhat later the Governor of Ohio instituted an investigation through the State Board of Pharmacy in charge of Mr. M. N. Ford. This investigation discovered no new facts save that the capsules used were of a slightly different size from those used in the University dispensary. This difference was so slight as not to be observed casually. It required an examination to recognize the difference. This at once raised the question whether these capsules could have been procured elsewhere than the source from which the University secures its supply and whether by some device a limited number of these capsules had been deposited in the receptacle in the dispensary. The absence of any motive for such criminal attempt upon the lives of innocent persons made this problem extremely delicate and difficult of determination. The University has not been able to trace any evidence of a purchase of capsules that would explain in any way the limited number of a different size from those in ordinary use, nor has the University been able to satisfy the minds of the investigators as to how such a limited number of capsules should find place and be distributed. None of the physicians associated in any way with this experience could provide any rational explanation of the situation. The University officials were pained and mystified by the whole procedure. The investigation by the police authorities was as complete as they could make it. The further investigation at the Governor's request has still left all the im-portant issues just where they were. No evidence was produced to show that anyone had any knowledge of the fatal capsules as to their existence or their source. One student whose service was in the dispensary in the ordinary routine remembers having given capsules to Mr. Puskin. There is no evidence, however, that he knew that these differed in any way from the ordinary capsule. In all the investigations made there was not the slightest approach to identification of any person criminally related to this experience. No blame could be attached to the administrative or dispensing officers in the College of Pharmacy. No motive could be discovered for any student to make such an irrational and criminal attack upon innocent lives. It seems impossible to tolerate the theory of an accident or of a careless method of procedure. The whole situation would seem to indicate deliberateness in the filling of those particular capsules. The history of criminal acts of this sort leads one to believe that by some inadvertence the future may provide a clew leading to a solution. The University will continue its effort so far as possible to discover a clew to this mysterious and perplexing situation. Such a disaster in the University experience lingers in the minds of University officials impossible of eradication. No responsibility could be located on individuals or groups of individuals for the occurrence. Speculative minds indulged in imaginary situations as always under such trying and distressing·circumstances but no approach was made toward apprehending a guilty person, or to a reasonable explanation of any motives that might lead to such a terror striking experi- ence. On the assumption that it was a deliberate act, some one or more persons unknown at present, carry the grave and terrible responsibility. If by any means the future shall disclose this person or persons the University will recognize its obligation to bring them to account. At present nothing more can be done than to record officially the profound sympathy which all University officials and students felt toward the unfortunate and bereaved families, and also the feeling of resentment that such a deed was possible among students.

    The official reports submitted to the President of the University from all University officials having to do with the investigation are filed as a part of the permanent records in this case and will be available at any time for properly authorized persons to inspect.

. . .  

    The usual statistical reports as required by law, the reports from the Deans, Departments, and other divisions of the University activities are herewith submitted as part of this report. The Summary of the Financial Report of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees is included as usual as part of this report. Reference to the appendixes will provide information supplementing that found in the several reports. Respectfully submitted,

                                            W. O. THOMPSON, President.

July 31, 1925.

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Pomp and circumstance

Aerial photo, 1922

I must say I do not recall having a commencement week anything like this when I graduated in 1989. We had the large university graduation exercises in the university stadium, followed by smaller graduation ceremonies at each individual college. Poor uncle Charley.

COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM

Friday, June 12

• 8:30 p. m. — Open air play, Browning Society, "Two Gentlemen of Verona," near the Spring.
• 9 p. m. — Senior Prom, the Armory.

Saturday, June 13

Alumni Day

• 9 a. m. — Fourth Annual Intercity Alumni Golf Tournament, Aladdin Country Club.
• 10 a. m. — Alumni-Faculty baseball game, University diamond.
• 10 a. m. — Alumnae Council, Pomerene Hall.
• 12:15 p. m. — Class reunion luncheons of '79, '80, '81, '82, '98, '99, '00, '01, '17, '18, '19, '20.
• 2 p. m. — Annual meeting of Ohio State University Association, official alumni organization, at the Spring.
• 3:30 p. m. — Baseball, Ohio State vs. University of Michigan, University diamond.
• 6 p. m. — Alumni "Sunset Supper," Ohio Stadium.
• 8:30 p. m. — "Two Gentlemen of Verona."

Sunday, June 14

Baccalaureate Services

• 3:30 p. m. — The Armory. Sermon, President Thompson; music, the University Choir.
• 8:30 p. m. — Cantata, "The Beatitudes," by Ashford, Choral Union, the Armory.

Monday, June 15

Class Day

• 8 a. m. — Ivy planting, Ohio Union; Ivy Orator, Mary E. Whiteford.
• 8:30 a. m. — Class breakfast.
• 9:30 a. m. — Literary exercises. Class president, Seth W. Harter; class prophet, Albert E. Segal; class poet, Carter C. Kissell; class orator, C. Emory Glander; memorial address, Anthony R. Fiorette; acceptance of Memorial, President Thompson.
• 12:30 p. m. — Parents' luncheon, Ohio Stadium.
• 3:30 p. m. — President's reception, Administration Building.
• 8:30 p. m. — Concert, the Armory. Opera, "The Mikado," Choral Union.

Tuesday, June 16

Commencement Day

• 10 a. m. — Graduating exercises, Coliseum, State Fair Grounds. Presiding officer of the day, President Thompson; annual address, President William L. Bryan, Ph.D., LL.D., Indiana University; conferring of degrees, presentation of certificates, and announcements, President Thompson.

Ohio State Lantern

Wednesday, June 3, 1925

 

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I shall carry this to my grave

Poor Prexy. What a way to end his college career.

Ohio State was a rather small and struggling university when President William Oxley Thompson first arrived; by the time he retired 26 years later at the age of 70, the university student enrollment had grown nearly ten times.

William Oxley Thompson

Affectionately known as Prexy, he came to Ohio State in 1899, serving as university president O.S.U. until 1925. Thompson’s name is still known around the O.S.U. campus at today. 

The main library at Ohio State is named in his honor, with a large statue of him in front of the main entrance, and students still rub his bust in the library for good luck during finals week. What is not often known is that President William Oxley Thompson was also an ordained Christian minister, serving as a Presbyterian pastor.

The poisonings devastated him.

"We are very much distressed about it," President W. O. Thompson declared. "We bow our heads with regret and sorrow. I shall carry this to my grave as one of the greatest disasters of my lifetime." 

I suspect that the poisonings were one of the reasons why Prexy announced his decision to retire on Wednesday, May 20, 1925.

William Oxley Thompson, President of Ohio State University, desires to resign, it was announced Wednesday. Mr. Thompson's wish was voiced at a meeting of the Board of Trustees last Saturday, but announcement on it was withheld until Wednesday. Dr. Thompson himself made the announcement. Dr. Thompson's resignation will be presented formally to the board shortly after the June commencement.

Because of their admiration for President Thompson, the classes of 1923, 1925, 1926, and 1928 resolved to create a “life-sized” figure of the president to stand on the west end of the Oval in front of the library bearing his name.

The sculptor, Erwin Frey, an Ohio native and faculty member in the Department of Fine Arts, was a well-known sculptor at the time. It took 16 months to complete and was first done in clay and then cast in bronze. Frey was given $13,000 for the statue, including the supplies.

President Thompson sat for the sculpture, and was very pleased with Frey’s work, calling it worthy of high praise. Thompson wrote in his July 1930 column of The Ohio State University Monthly:

“Nothing in my long experience has moved me more profoundly than this evidence of esteem and good will which the cooperative effort of four classes has expressed.”

Thompson was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in 1926. He died on Dec. 9, 1933 and is buried in Columbus.

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Poison pill probe

O. S. U. Pushes Probe of Poison Pill Deaths

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Feb. 9, 1925

    With police officials believing that the deaths of two Ohio State University students from strychnine laden "cold pills" may have been caused by a "Leob_Leopold*" type of degenerate, and university authorities admitting that the poison may have gotten intn [sic] the dills [sic] by a terrible mistake," investigation of the deaths is being pushed. City and county authorities are seen above questioning one of the pharmacy students who worked in the college dispensary, from which the pills came. Dr. W. O. Thompson, president of the university who is directing the pribe [sic], and Dr. H. S. Wingert, who prescribed the fatal pills are also shown.

*Nathan F. Leopold, Jr., and Richard A. Loeb, were two wealthy students at the University of Chicago who in May 1924 kidnapped and murdered Loeb's cousin, 14-year-old Bobby Franks, in Chicago, Illinois in an attempt to create the "perfect crime."

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Commerce and journalism

As a journalist, I was curious about university journalism and what it was like in 1925. I was thrilled to find this paper, Journalism at the Ohio State University: 1893-1958, by James E. Pollard, former head of the Journalism department from 1938 to 1958.

The College of Commerce and Journalism was formed in 1916-1917 school year, with Dr. James E. Hagerty as the dean. It consisted initially as three departments -- Economics, Sociology and Journalism -- and offered only junior or senior work. Courses for the first two years continued to be given mainly in the College of Arts, Philosophy and Science. The College of Commerce and Journalism was authorized to convert to a full four-year college starting with the 1923-24 school year.

I am thankful Ohio State University is so thorough in its online offerings, including the 1924-1925 Course Offerings Bulletin for the College of Commerce and Journalism. I found it fascinating to look at classes both Uncle Charley and Grandpa Fred took. (I was amused to see that the stipends for the Lantern editor and business manager were cut during the depression from $500 to $300 a year each, since that was about what I was paid as photo editor my senior year in 1989.)

Dr. Thompson said in his final annual report in 1925:

The courses in journalism make a steady appeal for the primary reason that instruction in English in high school and college has so changed its form as to render writing a desirable ambition. The changed conditions in the offices of great city dailies and also in the papers of the smaller cities have brought about an increased demand for young men and young women with a college education and special training for journalism. There is no prospect that this call will ever be less imperative. These students in rare instances may become literary writers, but in the great majority of instances they will be efficient agents in providing the daily reading for the increasing multitudes who patronize our papers and our current magazines.

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Sock and buskin

Now that I'm piecing together the clues from online newspaper resources, as well as the clippings and letters that I photocopied years ago, I am seeing how things fell apart for great-grandpa Gene in 1926. Yes, his son Charley was murdered in 1925, but he also had a series of setbacks in 1926.

(First, on April 19, 1926 he received only half of the $15,000 he had asked the state for in compensation for Charley's death.) This was a mistake on my part. He received the money in 1927. GH 4/26/21

Worthpoint.com

Second, he learned in early June about the production of "Can't Afford It" at the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association Convention to be held July 19-23 at Cedar Point, Sandusky*.

Third, the long awaited report by the Board of Pharmacy was finally released on July 1, but no fault was really found.

I think this undated letter to the editor of The Columbus Citizen sums up his outrage and despair.

From Tragedy to Comedy.

Editor of The Citizen, 

We note that the College of Pharmacy at Ohio State will stage a comedy at Cedar Point some time this month. We note further that some of the actors in the tragedy at that institution a few months (sic) ago will appear in this comedy.

If they are bound to stage a play, they might be thankful for a few suggestions.

We suggest that the principal stage setting represent a cut-rate drug store with a clientele of 10,000 student patrons. This drug store to be free from any state inspection, not in charge of a registered pharmacist, and to be provided with locks that would enable the patrons to help themselves whenever they felt so disposed.

One scene could show freshman filling prescriptions, unhampered by the supervision of any instructors, who are supposed to be absent for long periods.

To add spice to this scene it might show one student in charge and another coming in and helping himself to the poison capsules which resulted in the death of two men.

Another scene might portray the (sur)prise of the instructors at the disappearance of two bottles of strychnine from some of their desks, a number of which contained strychnine and which were not locked at all times.

Then they might act the death struggles of the two young men who were martyrs to the negligence of the state of Ohio, in not inspecting this big cut rate drug store.

Another scene might show the big crowd composing the two-year course in pharmacy, a course which President Thompson admitted was utilized as a bootleggers course, and Dean Dye admitted that this overcrowding of the place rendered conditions so that they hardly knew where they were at.

And finally, if possible, they might show a stage picture saddened homes, ruined prospects and the misery which have followed in the wake of this disgraceful happening.

Respectfully,

                        A.E. HULS

Logan, O.

I doubt the letter from Theo. D. Wetterstroem of The Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association on "THE PHARMACY SIGN INSURES SAFETY" letterhead brought him much comfort.

*Opened in 1870, Cedar Point is a 364-acre amusement park located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. 

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